Like the IRS (or even your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend), apostrophes are possessive. Everything is theirs. Michael Scott’s paper. Dwight’s beets. Jim’s pranks. Pam’s art. Stanley’s diabetes.
So, this all seems pretty straightforward. Rule of thumb: use ‘s for singular case and s’ for plural case, right? Nope. If it was, why would apostrophes be style?
Plural forms of words pose one such problem, because plural words that don’t end in s also have ‘s instead of s’. Examples:
The child’s beloved hamster got ran over by a reindeer. Sad face.
The children’s playground was destroyed by a passing tornado. Sadder face.
Both of these are correct, which seems easy enough. But ask yourself: what about Elvis?
Elvis’s song was at the top of the charts!
Elvis’ song was at the top of the charts!
So, which one is right? Well, that’s easy. Both. Or more accurately, whichever you decide the truth to be. Frankly, your audience doesn’t care as long as you are consistent with the usage. We decided to always use ‘s with singular possessive cases (e.g., Elvis’s song). When we speak the phrase aloud, ‘s just feels right. And frankly, that’s the only justification we need. Remember: style is a choice.
